By anglers for anglers
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Taupō Fishery Focus.
By trout anglers for trout anglers.
Issue 45 – February 2026.
This time of year, offers a variety of fishing options for anglers. With angling pressure relatively low, it makes an enticing proposition.
For river and shore anglers, big browns can be encountered in stream mouths and lower reaches of rivers. Many recovering rainbows are in better shape now having had more time to feed and put on some weight. Boat anglers can expect to connect with good numbers of fish. Recent reports from Fishery Rangers conducting surveys at boat ramps confirm a high proportion of anglers are catching their limit, with bags made up of an even split between fresh maiden trout and recovering fish.
In terms of techniques, river anglers should adopt a mobile approach and be willing to search the water for feeding fish. Clear water means presentation becomes important, and a flexible approach will bring dividends.
For boaties, harling can be successful early and late in the day, but for many jigging will be the method of choice. This method can be successful any time of day so doesn’t require an early start. On top of that it is a relatively easy technique to get right – the key is to find areas about 35m deep where a sinker can be bounced along the bottom, presenting the flies perfectly to trout feeding on the edge of the thermocline.
Local fishing tackle stores are a fountain of local knowledge, so make sure you pop in and get the latest tips on flies, lures and techniques.
Small stillwater trout fishing aficionados will enjoy Lake Otamangakau reopening to fishing on Sunday after being closed during February. Below we have included a short reminder of why the closure was introduced. You can also read about an upcoming survey on spin fishing, a reflection on the summer break and of the importance of fishing regulations. There is an example of a multi-agency response to a reported possible gold clam incursion as well as a heads-up about our upcoming photo comp.
As always, we hope you enjoy the Taupō fishery and the variety of trout fishing on offer at this time of year. Make sure you have a valid Taupō fishing licence before you start fishing. All fishing licences are available from our online licence store:
www.doc.govt.nz/fishinglicence
Tight lines.
James Barnett
Editor
Lake Otamangakau reopens.
Fans of Lake Otamangakau will be eager to wet a line once the fishery reopens on Sunday 1 March.
After an atypically cool February trout should be in excellent condition and will have benefitted from the lack of angling pressure. These trout will be feeding avidly now as they look to build up weight and condition in preparation for spawning. Insect activity will remain high in March, particularly damsels that are often prolific at this time of year, providing plenty of opportunity for anglers to contact feeding trout.
March can still deliver periods of hot weather, so if things heat up we recommend anglers monitor water temperatures using our live online telemetry data.
Refresh your memory on why the February closure was introduced in the story below.
Lower Tauranga-Taupō River spin fishing survey.
Last season we floated the idea of introducing limited spin fishing along a specific, underutilised section of the lower Tauranga-Taupō River. The idea was to offer younger and inexperienced anglers an opportunity to feel the excitement of catching a trout in the Taupō Fishing District. In effect, acting as an introduction to trout fishing.
While there were positive voices welcoming the idea, the initial response from many other anglers was negative. As a result, we put plans on hold and committed to carrying out a survey – an opportunity for all anglers to have their voices heard.
If you have an interest in this issue and would like to contribute to decision making, please look out for the survey. It will be released in March and promoted through a dedicated newsletter, our Facebook page and other outlets.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Why the February closure at Lake Otamangakau.
We continue to hear concerns raised by some anglers, particularly on social media, about the February closure at Lake Otamangakau. Therefore, we would like to remind anglers why closure was introduced and how it protects this very special and unique trophy trout fishery.
Background.
Firstly, we need to remind ourselves why change was needed. During the summer of 2018 anglers reported increasing numbers of dead trout at Lake Otamangakau. This sparked a body of research into what could be causing these deaths. At the time, it was thought that marginal environmental conditions such as high summer water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen and/or poor catch and release technique could be the main causes. We needed to know more.
Firstly, we started sampling the water temperatures throughout the water column in some of the deepest sections of the lake. We also commenced logging dissolved oxygen to further increase our understanding what was actually happening under the surface. In addition, a timelapse camera was set up so we could quantify angling pressure over the fishing season. This was followed by a catch and release study on the lake to monitor the survival rate of fish after being caught during cold, average and warm water temperatures. Furthermore, we surveyed anglers to get a better understanding of their perception and preferences.
This body of primary research (specific to the unique conditions at Lake Otamangakau) was combined with wider international studies and with direct angler feedback to inform the new regulations, including the February closure.
February closure.
February is traditionally the hottest month of the year. Records confirm water temperatures at Lake Otamangakau also reach their peak, with surface temperatures regularly exceeding 20oC in February. Critically, this temperature can be lethal to trout. At this temperature, catch and release fishing becomes impractical, if not unethical. Prior to the introduction of the February closure, the typical warm water conditions would regularly result in large dead trout floating around the lake edge.
As water temperature approaches 20oC the chance of trout mortality increases even with proper catch and release techniques. Trout already weakened by heat stress are at risk and can die no matter how carefully they are handled. The warm water phase of our catch and release study confirmed that Lake Otamangakau trout only had a 60% survival rate when released. Stopping fishing during the hottest month of the year will reduce unnecessary post-release mortality and protect trout when they are most vulnerable to heat stress. Under these circumstances we should put the wellbeing of large trout ahead of an angler’s desire to just go fishing. Without these trout, there will be no anglers.
Shallow lakes such as Lake Otamangakau are sensitive to temperature fluctuations due to the high surface to volume ratio. They have less water to absorb heat and so they warm up faster. Sunlight can penetrate through most of the water and heat the entire water column. Shallow lakes mix easily allowing the entire body of water to warm up rather than just the top layer. They are also more affected by air temperature and wind due to less thermal inertia. A dark muddy bottom absorbs heat and transfers it to the water, further exacerbating the problem.
There is always going to be a risk with closing the fishery during February only, as late January and early March can also see days where water temps exceeded 20 degrees. However, a 4-week closure was a good compromise, giving trout a break for a month while the lake is typically at its warmest. This approach also provided clarity for anglers, allowing them to plan fishing trips – especially those travelling from overseas.
Having a system that was fully temperature dependant could realistically mean no fishing from mid-January through until early March and so a February closure was the best compromise for both the trout and the anglers. In cooler years when February water temperatures don’t approach critical levels for trout, the population of large fish benefit from a month of reduced angling pressure, allowing them to feed and pack on weight. This rest period helps trout welfare and positively contributes to the goal of creating a genuine trophy fishery where more large trout can achieve the magic 10lb mark and beyond.
We regularly hear people suggest a ‘hoot owl’ style regulation concept, as used overseas to limit fishing during the heat of the day. This approach is hard to manage and police on an hourly and daily basis. Also, as previously mentioned, feedback from the angling community told us planning fishing trips around fluctuating temperatures isn’t practical.
From a trout welfare perspective, it is also important to remember that the surface water temperature we record is taken at 1m below the surface in 10m of water. Shallower parts of the lake will be well above 20oC, so our temperature monitoring provides a fair guide for how warm the lake generally is as a starting point. Anglers rarely fish in the deepest sections of the lake and so they will be targeting trout in waters 5m or less and so surface water temperatures can be much warmer in these shallower locations.
On a positive note, the February closure creates a new “opening day” on 1 March. Trout will be less cautious following the break, and if water conditions are favourable, anglers and trout can resume battle, where released trout stand a much better chance of survival.
The future
Looking ahead, we will continue to actively monitor the lake closely and investigate management options. This includes regular angler surveys, ongoing water temperature monitoring, capturing spawning data from the fish trap, and discussing lake management scenarios with the power company. In addition, we are keen to understand how many times a specific trout is caught and released during a fishing season. A tagging programme is planned for next season to capture this primary data, which will further increase our understanding of this unique dynamic fishery and how best to protect it in the future.
Spike in Taupō fishery offences prompts rules reminder.
Taupō Fishery Rangers saw a rise in people breaking the rules when fishing for trout in the Taupō Fishing District during the peak summer period. The spike in peak summer trout fishery offences amounts to four times what it was for the same period last summer.
“There has been a concerning increase in people breaking the rules, which can have serious consequences for the fishery,” says Steve Doughty, Compliance Lead for DOC in the Taupō District.
“Anglers fishing without a valid licence was a common problem. Every angler must have a valid Taupō District fishing licence, which directly funds the ongoing management and protection of this special fishery.”
DOC manages the Taupō Fishing District as a sustainable wild trout fishery, attracting thousands of anglers each year. Fishing regulations are in place to protect the future of the fishery, with a team of DOC Fishery Rangers patrolling the fishery to ensure everyone follows the rules while fishing local lakes and rivers.
Gold clam investigation.
A possible sighting of gold clam in Lake Taupō prompted Fishery Rangers to assist with a collaborative interagency response.
Fishery Rangers used a Taupō Fishery patrol vessel to take an investigation team from the Waikato Regional Council and Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board out to an area near the Māori Rock Carvings.
An Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) was used to search and film the lakebed where a diver had reported a possible sighting of the invasive gold clams.
The footage will be studied in greater detail by technical staff. Initial observations were promising, confirming only large beds of native freshwater mussels (kakahi) are present. No gold clams were identified.
While good news, the incident is a timely reminder of the importance of biosecurity and the value of critical tools like Check, Clean, Dry. More information about CCD and the specific changes to protect against gold clam can be found on the Ministry for Primary Industries CCD webpage>
Look out for our annual photo competition.
Get ready to share your fishing photos from the Taupō Fishing District and be in with a chance to win a Taupō a season fishing licence up to the value of $159 (Family Season).
Every year we run a photo competition which attracts a huge variety of photos, reflecting the diverse nature of the fishery and the many ways people fish here.
A winning photo is chosen to illustrate each licence category, with one selected as the overall winner and used on the printed plastic licence. That means there are seven chances to win!
So, don’t send your photos to us just yet. Keep snapping and look out for the launch of our photo competition in April.
